‘Devout Muslim versus kafir’: Polls over but Kerala’s Vadakara simmers amid allegations of communal campaign

A Left citadel which the Congress has been winning since 2009, Vadakara LS constituency had witnessed a fierce electoral battle this time with both the fronts targeting the rival candidates.

On April 24, a day before the polling, the WhatsApp message purportedly attributed to a worker of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had been widely circulated in the constituency. Screenshot of the message said, “Shafi is a Muslim, who offers prayers five times a day. The other candidate is a ‘kafir’ woman. Whom should we vote for, think before voting. Vote for one among us.’’

The next day, on April 25, CPI(M) social media handles started a counter campaign saying, “During the days of Nipah, floods and pandemic, it was the kafir woman (Shailaja, former health minister) who held all of us close irrespective of caste and religion.’’

The CPI(M) had also complained to the Election Commission alleging that the UDF was engaged in a communal campaign in Vadakara. The CPI(M), in its complaint, had named a Youth League worker in Vadakara as the person behind the message.

The Congress soon turned the table on the CPI(M) alleging that the message was created by the CPI(M) to win votes by fomenting communal sentiments.

“I am convinced that the message was fabricated. The CPI(M) is raising the allegation using the fake screenshot,” Shafi alleged.

Congress-backed legislator K K Rama, who represents Vadakara in the state Assembly, blamed the CPI(M), saying that the communal campaign going on in the constituency is potent enough to shatter peaceful life.

The IUML Thursday took out a march to the office of the Kozhikode rural SP demanding that police arrest the persons behind the fake screenshots, which described Shailaja as a “kafir woman”. “We want the accused to be arrested before the election results are out,” IUML state secretary M K Muneer said.

As allegations over the source of the screenshot are still in the air, both CPI(M) and Congress are conducting campaigns and mass conventions across Vadakara constituency against the alleged communal propaganda.

CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan said, “Muslim community has been getting closer to the Left. The UDF wanted to prevent this trend by creating communal polarisation. Hence, they have resorted to the heinous communal propaganda. There was a bid to paint Shailaja teacher as anti-Muslim.”

Addressing a UDF convention in Vadakara on Saturday, Congress leaders and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan said, “CPI(M) is continuing a communal campaign in Vadakara fearing setback in the next Assembly elections. CPI(M) depicted Shafi as a leader who did not stand for Muslim cause. In another section of voters, they painted him as a worshipper of idols. Everything was a CPI(M) agenda for creating chasm in society.”